Books continue to be a classic holiday gift for every audience. In fact, according to Nielsen, the last nine weeks of the year made up a quarter of print book sales in 2012. This holiday season, consider connecting friends or family with a book written by a University of Nevada, Reno faculty or alumni. Several stories offer a wide-range of topics for even the most discerning reader.

Battleborn
By Claire Vaye Watkins, alumna of the Department of English

"Battleborn" is composed of 10 short stories about the American West. Stories include a hermit who discovers himself by rescuing an abused teenager, a woman coming to terms with betraying her best friend, and a look into the author's life following the destruction of Helter Skelter. Watkins, a University alumnus, has won a variety of works for her story, including the 2012 Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Silver Pen Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize.

Battleborn can be purchased locally at Sundance Books, or online at IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Books-A-Million.

"Adventures" short story by Paul George

Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade
Short Story: Adventures of a Middle-Aged College Student
By Paul George, alum of the Reynolds School of Journal

"Adventures of a Middle-Aged College Student" tells Reynolds School of Journalism graduate Paul George's story of enrolling in college and pursuing writing as a career. George wrote his story for a magazine writing class at the University before submitting it to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade", published by Simon & Schuster, is available for purchase from most retail and online bookstores.

"A Flood of Blessings" short story by Jackie Shelton

Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas
Short Story: A Flood of Blessings
By Jackie Shelton, alumna of the Reynolds School of Journalism

"A Flood of Blessings" is a short story about a Christmas flood and characters' perseverance to change the worst holiday into the best Christmas ever. Originally shared with her class as an example of a personal essay, University instructor Jackie Shelton submitted the story to the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series.

"Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas", published by Simon & Schuster, is available for purchase from most retail and online bookstores.

"Robert Laxalt" bio by Warren Lerude

Robert Laxalt: The Story of a Storyteller
By Warren Lerude, emeritus professor of journalism

"Robert Laxalt was as understated as he was brilliant as a novelist and Basque-American citizen. Warren Lerude's superb new study illuminates the life and artistry of Laxalt," National Humanities Scholar Clay Jenkinson wrote. "Anyone who wants to understand the pastoral tradition of the American West needs to read the works of Robert Laxalt."

The book is available for purchase from most retail and online bookstores, and at the Nevada Wolf Shop.

"Sports in American Life" by Richard Davies

Sports in American Life: A History
By Richard O. Davies, distinguished history professor emeritus

"Sports in American Life" narrates a progressive history of sports, from its discriminatory origins to today's diverse, all-inclusive spectacle. Author Richard "Dick" O. Davies, considered to be one of the country's best sports historians, has written and edited 15 books. His newest project, "The Main Event: Boxing in Nevada from the Mining Camps to the Las Vegas Strip", will be released April 2014.                                             

"Sports in American Life" can be found at Amazon.com or at local booksellers.

"Waiting for the Cars"

Waiting for the Cars
By Wendell Huffman and Howard Goldbaum, associate professor of journalism

"Waiting for the Cars" tells the story of the Central Pacific Railroad's construction through 218 photographs and captions. The photos are in 3D stereo, visible with included 3D glasses. Howard Goldbaum, an associate professor of journalism at the University, conducted the photographic research, corrected damaged prints from the mid-1800s and converted the images to 3D.

The book is available on the project's website.

"You Came Back" by Christopher Coake

You Came Back
By Christopher Coake, associate professor of English

"You Came Back" details the beauty of parental love when Mark Fife is called back to his old, tragedy-filled house to investigate the ghostly appearance of his late son Brendan. Coake's stories have been published in several literary journals and anthologized in Best American History Stories 2004 and The Best American Noir of the Century. He has been a member of the English faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno since 2005, where he teaches creative writing.

The book is available for purchase from most retail and online bookstores.

"Your Path to Bliss by Judy Strass

Your Path to Bliss
By Judy Strauss, associate professor of managerial sciences

"Your Path to Bliss" is a free e-book about meditation and finding inner happiness with joy, love and peace. Encouraging the use of gongs and other Himalayan instruments, author Judy Strauss encourages readers to quiet the mind, gain balance and awaken the spirit.

The e-book is available online with a series of instrumental CD's to be played while reading.